''Quest For Glory: So You Want To Be A Hero?'' (formerly called ''Hero's Quest''), is the first entry in the ''QuestForGlory'' series of games. Your character, the latest graduate of the [[CorrespondenceCourse Famous Adventurer's Correspondence School]], [[JumpedAtTheCall answers a newspaper ad]] from the valley of Spielburg, which is in dire need for a hero, "No Experience Required".

The local Baron was once a great protector of the people of the valley, but after crossing the ogress Literature/BabaYaga she cursed him to lose all that he holds dear. Sometime afterward, both the Baron's son and daughter went missing, and in his grief and despair the Baron has virtually abandoned his duties and holed himself up inside the castle.

As a result the valley has become a nearly lawless ruin, bandits prey on any travelers and merchants, monsters run unchecked in the wilderness, and your adventurer just barely made it into the valley before a blizzard sealed off the eastern mountain pass. Now ItsUpToYou to break the curse while taking on ruthless bandits, an ogress that likes eating heroes, (and we don't mean sandwiches) [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and the dreaded]] [[FluffyTheTerrible Antwerp]].

[[HaveANiceDeath Good luck]].

The game is set in a backdrop of Germanic and Norse mythology, (with a few exceptions, most notably the Katta innkeepers Shema and Shameen and the merchant Abdulla Doo, all three of whom are visiting from their native [[QuestForGloryII Arabian Nights themed land of Shapeir]], and the Slavic Baba Yaga) and later received an EnhancedRemake with VGA graphics.

!!The game contains examples of the following tropes:* AllTrollsAreDifferent: The ones here are big, blue, dumb, and violent. They carry [[DropTheHammer a big hammer]] with which to smash you, and [[MoneySpider plenty of coin.]] You can also loot [[EyeOfNewt their beards]] to give to the Healer for a reward.* AnAxeToGrind: Brauggi the frost giant uses one. He'll gladly give you a free demonstration if you are dumb enough to [[HaveANiceDeath attack him]].* {{Animorphism}} - in the first game Baba Yaga turns the hero into a frog. Also the Dryad turns you into a stag or a flower if you piss her off.** as you discover during the game, a Kobold turned [[spoiler:the missing Baronet]] into a bear.* AntiVillain: According to [[WordOfGod Corey Cole]], neither Baba Yaga nor the Kobold Wizard are really villains. Though both are dangerous, and Baba Yaga is certainly evil, both acted only in response to the actions of the Baron and Baronet, respectively.* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: The trophies on the walls of the Spielburg Adventurer's Guild Hall include such fantastic monsters as a troll, a dragon, a gryphon, and...a moose. To be fair, it nearly bit Wolfgang's nose off.* BearsAreBadNews: There's one living in a cave. [[spoiler:Trying to kill it will result in a NiceJobBreakingItHero moment. It's actually the Baronet that has been enchanted.]]* BerserkButton:** After dancing with the fairies in [[LostWoods Spielburg Forest]], try taking their mushrooms or stepping into their ring and see what happens. You should probably save beforehand.*** Also, don't tell them you don't ''want'' to dance. ''[[TheFairFolk They don't care]]''.** Mention one of the guards' bald spot, and he'll spend the rest of the game pissed at you.* BlatantLies: Bruno will recommend the Dragon's Breath at the bar, and if you aren't a Thief, he'll tell you that the [[SchmuckBait Thieves' Guild is in the graveyard]] [[HaveANiceDeath and you can see them go inside it at night]].* CharacterCustomization: More so in this game than in later installments of the series. You choose from the FighterMageThief trio, but you can [[PointBuildSystem add skills]] from outside of your skillset with relative ease, and as long as you have a single skill point in a given skill you can level it to its maximum by using it in the game. It becomes much harder in later games, as your hero becomes more and more specialized.** You can even solve certain puzzles using cross-class skills. It's very possible to be a JackOfAllTrades in this game without the MasterOfNone part.* CherryTapping: You can constantly throw rocks at enemies. You can even whittle down [[TheBrute Toro the Minotaur]] while hiding behind some bushes; while the EGA version keeps him moving, he'll be at zero health when you enter combat and fall instantly.* DigitizedSprites: The remake.* EvenEvilHasStandards: The bandit leader prohibits the bandits from attacking the villagers. [[spoiler: That's a big clue that the bandit leader is actually the kind-hearted daughter of the Baron.]]* ExplosiveBreeder: The Antwerp, literally.* FallingChandelierOfDoom: How you neutralize Die Drei Knochelkopfen.* FastForwardGag: When you clean the stables, it's overlaid with a sped up version of the main theme.* GargleBlaster: "Don't drink the Dragon's Breath!" Also, Troll's Sweat, which tastes like troll sweat. [[spoiler: Troll's Sweat is so strong it knocks you out after one drink, and you wake up with a much lighter coin purse. Dragon's Breath turns you into a pile of ashes.]]* GettingCrapPastTheRadar - Some of the puns in the remake, such as Erasmus' comment that Baba Yaga doesn't believe in "Safe Hex".* GoombaStomp - The Antwerp will use one on ''you'' if you attack it.* GotVolunteered: None of the fairies want to give you fairy dust, so they make a fairy named Mikey do it.** Which doubles as one of the game's MANY {{Shout Out}}s, this one to the Life Cereal commercials.* GratuitousGerman - We have places such as [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Spielburg]] and a band of brigands with the motto "Brigands Uber Alles", as well as a brigand trio called "[[Film/TheThreeStooges Die Drei Knochelkopfen]]". The thieves' password in the VGA version [[ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish Is Always Schwertfisch]], and the random passwords in the EGA version are mostly German words.* GravityIsAHarshMistress - The Brigand Fortress' [[BottomlessPit deep chasm]] and rug trap.** Also, you can slip and fall from 'arry the 'ermit's front porch if you try to run while standing on it, as it's slippery due to the spray from the adjacent waterfall. * HaveANiceDeath: It's {{Sierra}}. Expect to die hilariously and often.* HeroicBSOD: Baron von Spielburg, ever since Baba Yaga's curse caused him to lose his son and daughter.* HonorAmongThieves: Slink and Sneak, who work the alley in Spielburg-town at night, won't rob you if you make the Thief sign the first time you meet them. If you ever meet them again, though, you'd better have a license...* InertialImpalement: How to avoid the Antwerp's aforementioned GoombaStomp: Hold up a sword or dagger and let gravity do the rest.* InNameOnly: The dreaded Antwerp has nothing to do with its namesake.* InterfaceScrew: Eat some of the [[MushroomSamba Magic Mushrooms]] for a minor one.* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: To a lesser degree than some of the later installments.* TheLostWoods: Spielburg Forest. By day you may happen upon the occasional goblin or brigand, but don't go out at night unless you're ready to fight (or run from) something much larger.* KarmaHoudini: ''You'', if you do any breaking and entering in Spielburg and don't get caught. It also has no bearing on whether or not you can become a Paladin in later games, though stealing in ''those'' games can jeopardize your chances. It may be a bit of GameplayAndStorySegregation at work as there was no Honor stat in the first game.* MagicDance - The fairies dance at night to make the flowers grow. They'll also make ''[[AFateWorseThanDeath you]]'' dance if you do something they don't like.* MagicMushroom - There's a ring of them somewhere in the forest. The healer wants them for potion ingredients, just don't pick them at night, because they're guarded by [[TheFairFolk fairies]]. [[MushroomSamba You can eat 'em, too!]] [[http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=ODIJZM3iUKY&feature=related Just don't overdo it...]]* TheMarvelousDeer: The hero followed the white stag to its resting place. It led him to the Dryad who was a spirit of nature. If the player attempts to harm the stag the Dryad will turn him into whatever he attacked, invoking a Game Over. * TheMaze, with the {{Trickster}} throwing items at you as you fumble through it. However, the bandits cross it quickly, since they've crossed it before, and don't have to deal with the Trickster.* MedievalEuropeanFantasy: This game is more medieval and European than the others, although the fourth game comes fairly close.* MilkingTheGiantCow: The Chief, while he's ranting about yet another rookie thief joining his guild.* MiniGame: Mage's Maze, which you can play with Erasmus if you know the required spells.** Also Dag-Nab-It, a dagger throwing game available to the Thief.** And arguably sparring with the Weapon Master for the Fighter.* MissingMom: Hilde's mother. Same with Elsa and Barnard's mother whom died shortly after giving birth to Elsa.* MixAndMatchCritter: The mantray is described as a cross between a manta ray and a sting ray... Except it doesn't swim underwater, it floats in the air and [[ShockAndAwe shoot lightning bolts at you!]]* MultipleEndings: [[spoiler:You can rescue Elsa and head straight to the castle. This will immediately trigger the ending, which mean you fail to beat [[BigBad Baba Yaga]]. You leave for Shapeir and you get a message that the valley is still cursed.]] Oddly, the only consequence of this is that your imported character in the second game starts with a little less money.* NoseShove: Don't pick your nose with lockpicks if your skill is too low or [[HaveANiceDeath you'll die]].* NothingIsScarier: The Night Gaunts. Averted if you're GenreSavvy enough not to sleep in the woods at night.* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Here they are little ugly blue-skinned guys (or green-skinned in the VGA version) who carry clubs and shields, and wear horned helmets. They are the lowliest of {{Mooks}} in this game and are only dangerous to very low-level players, or in the Goblin Central Combat Training Zone, where you can fight a group of goblins [[MookChivalry one after the other.]]* OurOgresAreHungrier: The game has a single ogre guarding a cave. Baba Yaga is also an ogre, but female ogres tend to be much smarter than males, and are usually {{Evil Sorceror}}s rather than {{Smash Mook}}s.* ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish - Well, it is , it's "Schwertfisch" (German for Swordfish) in the VGA remake, [[spoiler: [[YouShouldntKnowThisAlready but knowing that doesn't do you any good unless someone actually tells you]]]]. In the original EGA game, it's random.* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: 'enry the 'ermit is a hermit who loves company and loves to talk, so much so that if you give him some of your rations so you can crash at his place, he will talk ''all night'', even while you are asleep.* PublicDomainCharacter - Baba Yaga.* RaceLift: An odd example in the VGA remake: Sauruses (Saurii?) are purple while Goblins are blue-skinned in the EGA version, while in the remake they're both recolored green. However the ''description'' doesn't change, and the game still refers to purple Sauruses ([[RunningGag Saurii?]]) and blue-skinned Goblins.* RandomEncounters: The way they work in this game is by having an enemy appear and approach you from one of the paths on the screen while you are wandering around Spielburg Forest. You can run, or throw daggers/stones or use magic to damage or kill the enemy before combat actually starts. * RealIsBrown: The remake (like most 256-color, VGA games) has a much more subdued, "realistic" palette than the original 16-color EGA game.* {{Retcon}}: In the EGA version, if you ask Zara about Erana's Peace, she will tell you that it's Erana's final resting place. In the VGA remake, she says that it's rumored to be Erana's final resting place, but nobody knows for sure what happened to her. Quest for Glory IV confirms what happened to her, and that Erana's Peace was not her final resting place.* RetiredBadass: Wolfgang Abenteuer, the master of the Adventurer's Guild. He killed most of the monsters whose heads are now mounted on the walls of the Guild Hall. Schultz Meistersson was pretty badass in his day as well, and he and Wolfgang were able to keep Spielburg Valley relatively free of monsters. Nowadays Schultz is just the sheriff (though he's still no pushover) and Wolfgang spends his days napping in the Guild Hall and telling stories to anyone who will listen. The Baron, himself, personally prevented a pair of dragons from taking over the valley, one whose fearsome head overshadows the other impressive displays in the Guild Hall.* SecretTestOfCharacter - The gargoyle guarding Erasmus' house sometimes asks you what the Thieves' Password is. Only a thief would know the password ([[ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish in theory]]), and Erasmus doesn't like thieves entering his home. [[spoiler: The correct answer, whether you're a thief or not, is "I don't know."]] In the original EGA version, you can guess wrong and still be allowed in; in the VGA version, even pretending that you know the password will get you turned away.* ShoutOut: Quite a few. A sizable part of the game's humor in both the original EGA version and the VGA remake are nods to other {{Sierra}} games, films, books, etc.** The baron's name is [[StevenSpielberg Stefan von Spielburg]].** Fellow Sierra employees Mark Crowe and Scott Murphy creators of SpaceQuest known to gamers as "The Two Guys From Andromeda" have the honor have having slayed an Antwerp. (Something that is virtually impossible in-game no matter how skilled you are)** When dancing with the fairies, one of them will state "All he wants to do is dance!" in reference to the 1984 Don Henley song, "All She Wants To Do Is Dance".** The lobby of Erasmus' house in the EGA version includes: the "Rosella Stone", which has an hieroglyph of Rosella from VideoGame/KingsQuest on it, a genuine [[VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry Peruvian onklunk]], a model of a small plane from [[VideoGame/PoliceQuest Lytton PD]] and a bow from the Lara tribe. A [[VideoGame/LauraBow Lara Bow]], if you will.** Apparently TheThreeStooges found work as brigands. You even dispatch them in a slapstick manner.* Unwinnable: There's a couple of ways to get stuck.** UnwinnableByDesign: If you eat the magic acorn, or kill the bear, you're pretty much screwed, as you won't be able to complete the game in the first instance, and the baron will be royally pissed in the second. If you confront the brigand leader without the dispel potion, then you're doomed, because you can't leave, and any other action you take is a game over.** UnwinnableByMistake: In the VGA version, you can save at any time, but in a couple of instances, restoring the save results in an in-game timer running out far faster than it otherwise would, preventing you from taking a necessary action and usually resulting in a game over.* VideoGameRemake: The game was re-released with VGA graphics, point and click interface, extra EasterEgg and some minor tweaks.* VictoryPose: The Hero will do one if you beat the Minotaur in combat, rather than sneaking past or putting him to sleep. He apparently doesn't die, though, as you can see him in the crowd in the throne room at the end of the game, sporting bandages, and shows up in a much friendlier capacity in the fifth game.** The Hero takes a bow after beating up goblins in the Goblin Training Center.* WideOpenSandbox - Surprisingly for an AdventureGame, you are dropped in an open world where you can pretty much go anywhere except for some hidden areas and you can complete the main quest (And a few [[SideQuest Side-Quests]]) in a non-linear fashion.* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The dragon whose head is mounted on the wall of the Adventurer's Guild in Spielburg was slain by Baron von Spielburg and the guild, but its mate is said to still be alive.